Surgical splint



u April 22, 1952 l W, H, DETSCH 2,593,545

SURGICAL SPLINT Filed Nov. 30, 1950 IN VENTOR `llll/llllllllllllllllgflfllll M ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1952 SURGICAL sPLrNT William H. Dietsch, coilingswood, N. J. Application November 30, 1950, Serial No. 198,425

3 claims. (ol. 12s- 87) The present invention relates to a surgical splint of extremely simple and durable charac-l er, particularly adapted for first aid use.

The invention has for its purpose the provision of a telescopic splint embracing an outer and inner member which may be interlocked -with the inner member so positioned as to be coextensive with the outer lmember and which inner member may bel projected from either end of the- Outer member and eifectively intrlocked therewith in any desired position.

More specifically, it is the purpose and object of the invention to provide a telescopic splint which may be fabricated from molded plastic and which is so constructed as to have effective reinforcement in all positions of use.

Still more specifically it is the purpose and object of the invention to provide a telescopic splint embodying storage recesses wherein rst aid supplies and equipment may be housed, immediately ready for use when needed.

Further and more detailed objects and purposes of the invention willbecome apparent as the description proceeds, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the telescopic members in extended relationship.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the parts broken away and illustrating the position of the telescopic members when only partially extended.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 showing the interlocking member ready to be positioned.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4 with the intermediate portion broken away.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the splint embraces the elongated flat hollow outer member I and the elongated substantially at inner member II which is coextensive in length with the outer member I0. For convenience of reference, the members will be described as having upper and lower surfaces with respect to the positions occupied thereby in the drawings, though it is to be appreciated that the splint may be used with either side in engagement with the limb of the patient. The outer telescopic member Ill has parallel top and bottom walls I2 and I3. The intermediate portion of the top wall I2 is of substantially greater thickness as indicated at I4 than the thickness Of the bottomwall I3. The top and bottom walls I2 and I3 of the outer member I0 are interconnected as a unitary structure by the curved side wall portions I5 and I6. The inner surfaces of the side walls I5 and I6 take the form of an arc of a circle. The inner member II has an outer configuration conforming with the configuration of the longitudinal passageway I1 extending from end to end of the outer member' I0 and defined by the upper and lower walls I2 and I3 and the side walls I5 and I6 thereof. It will be observed, therefore, that the central portion I8 of the inner member I I has a thickness corresponding to the narrower portion of the passageway I1 and that the marginal portions I9 and 20 of the inner member I I are so formed that they snugly t the inner arc-like portions of the side walls I5 and I6 of the outer member I0. The marginal portions I9 and 20 of the inner member IIv are provided respectively with the longitudinally extending cylindrical storage recesses 2I and 22, theu opposite ends of which threadedly receive closure plugs 23 (see Figure 5).

The means for effecting interlocking of the outer telescopic member IIJ and the inner member I I embraces the spring steel staple-like members 24 and 25, the legs 26 of which are normally tensioned toward each other. The outer member IE) is provided with a pair of openings 21 near each end thereof, one set for receiving they legs 26. of the staple-like member 24 and the other set for receiving the legs 26 of the staplelike member 25. The inner member II is provided with a multiplicity of pairs of openings 28 which are adapted to be brought into vertical alignment with openings 21 in the outer member I0. When a selected pair of openings 28 of the inner member II are in alignment with one of the pairs of openings 21 in the upper Wall I2 of the outer member I0 as illustrated in Figure 3, the legs 26 of either the staple-like members 24 or v25 can be slightly spread apart and inserted through the aligned openings 21 and 28 to effectively interlock the outer member I0 and inner member II in a desired position of telescopic adjustment.

The upper wall I2 of the outer member I0 is conveniently cut away as indicated at 29 and 30 to provide thumb and nger access to the staplelike members 24 and 25 respectively to permit of their ready removal and replacement when desired. When the inner member II is fully telescoped within the outer member I0 as illustrated in Figure 4, the combined splint has an over-all length equal obviously only to the length of the outer member I0. The inner member Il may be projected from either end of the outer member Illand interlocked therewith at any selectedpoint represented by the spaced pairs of openings 28 in the inner member Il. The configuration of the Walls of the outer member l and the provision of the tubular side portions I9 and 20 of the inner member Il provide significant reinforcement for the splint in any position of use. The storage recesses 2| and 22 are readily accessible through the removal of plugs 23 and are conveniently employed for the carrying of syringes, gauze and other rst aid equipment. The construction of the splint, With the exception of the interlocking members 24 and 25, lends itself to economic Yproduction from molded plastic and like materials.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided a at extensible splint of great simplicity and practicality.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A surgical splint comprising a pair of elongated telescopic members, the inner of said members having a relatively flat transverse web portion and arcuate marginal beads integral with said web portion, theouter surfaces of said beads forming the arcs of circles of substantially greater diameter than the thickness of said web portion; the outer of said members being tubular, relatively at, and having substantially parallel, spaced, side Walls rigidly interconnected by edge Walls, said edge Walls having inner surfaces which conform in contour to the outer surfaces of the marginal beads of said inner member, the spacing of said side Walls being approximately equal to the thickness of the web portion of said inner member.

2v. A surgical splint comprising a pair of elongated telescopic members, the inner of said members having a relatively flat transverse web portion and arcuate marginal beads integral with said web portion, the outer surfaces of said beads forming the arcs of circles of substantially greater diameter than the thickness of said web portion, said beads being hollow and providing elongated, cylindrical storage spaces parallel to said bead, with at least one opening at an end of said inner member whereby first aid equipment may be carried in said splint; the outer of said members being tubular, relatively flat, and

having substantially parallel, spaced, side Walls rigidly interconnected by edge Walls, said edge Walls having inner surfaces which conform in contour to the outer surfaces of the marginal beads of said inner member, the spacing of said side Walls being approximately equal to the thickness of the web portion of said inner member.

3. A surgical splint comprising a pair of elongated telescopic members, the inner of said members having a relatively flat transverse web portion and arcuate marginal beads integral with said web portion, the outer surface of said beads forming the arcs of circles of substantially greater diameter than the thickness of said web portion; the outer of said members being tubular, relatively flat, and having substantially parallel, spaced, side walls rigidly interconnected by edge Walls, said edge Walls having inner surfaces vvhich conform in contour to the outer surfaces of the marginal beads of said inner member, the spacing of said side Walls being approximately equal to the thickness of the Web portion of said inner member; and U-shaped pin means on the device for interlocking said inner and outermembers together in telescoped position, said means for interlocking said members embracing a releasable locking element adjacent eachl end of said outer member, each of said releasable locking elements being independently effective to interlock said inner and outer members With the inner member projected from either end of the outer member.

WILLIAM H. DIETSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

